Salary data · BLS OEWS 2025
Social Worker Salary in the US
A Social Worker earns a national median of $71,900 per year. Here is how pay breaks down across US metro areas.
In Brief
Social Worker (BLS occupation 21-1029) earns a national median of $71,900 and a mean of $75,910 per year as of 2025. The highest-paying metro is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $105,570. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
National pay
Top-paying US metro areas
Ranked by median annual wage · BLS OEWS 2025
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About this data
All wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, mapped to occupation code 21-1029 (Social Workers, All Other). Figures are gross annual wages before tax and reflect employees only — self-employed and freelance earnings are not included.
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How much does a Social Worker earn in the US?▼
The national median wage for a Social Worker is $71,900 per year (mean $75,910), per the BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for 2025.
Which US cities pay Social Workers the most?▼
The top-paying metro areas are Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ($105,570), Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ($98,670), Boston-Cambridge-Nashua ($98,320).
Where does this Social Worker salary data come from?▼
All figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, occupation code 21-1029. Wages are gross annual, before tax.
Is Social Worker a well-paid career?▼
At a median of $71,900/year, Social Worker pay sits above the US median for all occupations. Pay varies widely by metro — see the city table above.